As this semester comes to a close, I took my final trip to Centennial this semester. I know the first thing that is on our minds is, was there a Bill sighting? I am delighted to say that, yes! There was indeed a Bill sighting! In case you do not remember, Bill is the squirrel that frequents my sit spot. His coat looked a lot thicker this time and he was hopping around trees and logs instead of coming down by the creek. Unfortunately, he kept his visit brief so I was unable to get a picture of his new winter coat. Other than, Bill I did not come across any other animal activity, and the little fish that typically scurry by when I look in the stream were absent as well. I assume it is starting to get too cold for them to be out and about.
There is virtually no foliage on any of the deciduous trees. The Norway Maple located just off the river bank was clinging onto about two or three leaves, but that was it. The Eastern Hemlocks were looking absolutely beautiful in the morning sun, and to my surprise, the Japanese Barberry was still littered with bright red berries.
The landscape of my spot has also been subject to seasonal changes. During my last visit, the leaves that littered the ground were very dense, full, and colorful. However, this time the leaves were more brown, matted down, and broken up into smaller pieces. This may be a sign of decomposers or just the slow break down of the leaves.
There is not much chatter from the birds this time, though very faintly in the distance I can hear a woodpecker. I did not actually get to see it, so there is no way of telling what species it was, but the Naturally Curious book does say that hairy and downy woodpeckers are frequent this time of year, so maybe it was one of them.
I was thrilled to hear the soft trickle of water back at my phenology spot. The creek was a bit lower last time I visited, so I could not hear the delightful patter of the water tripping over rocks. This has to be one of my favorite parts of my spot, that it is located near some form of water. One of my favorite things to do is creek walk with my friends, so picking a destination near the water was a must have for my phenology spot. The sound is so relaxing, and the water attracts animals to take a sip or dip. I loved having the opportunity to see the changes this beautiful place has had over the past few months, and I cannot wait to come back again next semester!
